Dual piano concert at Quick Center

Christina Hennessy

Published 12:59 pm, Tuesday, February 12, 2013

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Pianist Igor Lovchinsky will join with Jonathan Coombs for a free concert, "Reflections of Walter Piston," Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University, Fairfield, Conn. The piano duo is part of the Young Artists Series and is being presented by the New York City-based Stecher and Horowitz Foundation. For more information, call 203-254-4010 or visit http://www.quickcenter.com. less

Pianist Igor Lovchinsky will join with Jonathan Coombs for a free concert, "Reflections of Walter Piston," Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University, Fairfield, ... more

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Pianist Jonathan Coombs will join with Igor Lovchinsky for a free concert, "Reflections of Walter Piston," Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University, Fairfield, Conn. The duo is part of the Young Artists Series and is being presented by the New York City-based Stecher and Horowitz Foundation. For more information, call 203-254-4010 or visit http://www.quickcenter.com. less

Pianist Jonathan Coombs will join with Igor Lovchinsky for a free concert, "Reflections of Walter Piston," Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University, ... more

The work included in the program will feature Piston's complete piano repertoire, as well as a work by his colleague and friend -- fellow American composer Aaron Copland ("El Salon Mexico,") -- that was transcribed by Piston's student, Leonard Bernstein.

Coombs and Lovchinsky are being presented by the New York City-based Stecher and Horowitz Foundation, the organization the famed piano duo has been running since 1960.

In 2002, Coombs and Lovchinsky met for the first time during the foundation's New York International Piano Competition. In that year, Coombs emerged as a second-prize winner and Lovchinsky was a finalist.

"This is music people do not get to hear very often," said Lovchinsky, who echoed Coombs' sentiments that piano duos are a rarity among classical ensembles.

Also, Coombs said Piston's works carry a great energy.

"They are so cohesive from beginning to end," he said of the late composer's works. "You are really drawn in to the dialogue of the score."

Coombs and Lovchinsky, who both started playing piano as toddlers, said they are pleased to be performing the music of a composer, who, for many, remains largely underrated.

"I'm as guilty as anyone," said Lovchinsky, who added that he has come to "appreciate it more and more."

These Juilliard School graduates said they are enjoying the chance to play together for the first time. Individually, both have earned national and international awards, and performed on stages around the world.

Coombs is well into a more than 20-year career as a performer, educator and administrator. He has presented solo, chamber and orchestral concert performances throughout the United States. He teaches a small group of students and is assistant to the directors of the Stecher and Horowitz Foundation.

Russian-born Lovchinsky has performed throughout the United States, as well, as a concerto soloist and presented recitals in Poland, China and Canada.

Preparing for the concert has taken some doing, since Coombs is based in New York City and Lovchinsky in Boston. But both are pleased they have been given this opportunity.

"This is a very unique type of ensemble and to be able to do this with a musician I greatly respect is an absolute blast for me," Coombs said.

Lovchinsky said he is pleased to be bringing such a rarity to the Fairfield County audience.

"It is very different and quite difficult," he said of Piston's dual piano piece. "But ... that is a lot of fun. I have always enjoyed the opportunity to play something new."